Once you start, please end soon

The more you say, the less likely people will remember it. If you demand too much of your listeners or waste time indulging in long, rambling stories or tangents, you almost guarantee they will miss your main point.

Ask the person who invited you to speak how much time is allotted for your presentation. Then use only 80 to 90 percent of that time.

This leaves an extra cushion for the audience to ask questions. Even if they don't, you will earn their gratitude for keeping the proceedings moving at a rapid pace. Plus, you increase the odds that they will retain what you said.

Because your challenge is to get the audience on your side, take every opportunity to curry favor with them. That means pruning away fluff to articulate a stark, powerful point.

Your word choice can keep you on track. Omit meaningless phrases and avoid repeating yourself. Replace verbal quagmires such as "Focusing just on this point in time" with "Now" and "Please let me take a quick moment to express my deepest gratitude" with "Thank you."

To help you advance from beginning to end, skip the jokes or side comments that may amuse you but do not facilitate understanding. Share succinct, compelling anecdotes that support your points. But don't pad your stories with needless details or running commentary.

Imagine that you're swimming laps in a pool. With each stroke, you move closer to your destination. You maintain a steady speed without treading water or flopping around just for fun. You let nothing stop you from reaching a triumphant end.